Stop Moving the Goalposts: Why PDA Isn’t an Excuse for Poor Behaviour
Sarah Jane McGarry Sarah Jane McGarry

Stop Moving the Goalposts: Why PDA Isn’t an Excuse for Poor Behaviour

Pathological Demand Avoidance is increasingly used to explain any challenging behaviour. But when PDA becomes a catch-all label, it stops helping those who genuinely experience it. This blog explains what PDA really is, why language matters, and why understanding behaviour means looking at the ‘why’, not excusing the ‘what’.

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Why So Many Women Are Now Being Diagnosed With Autism and ADHD
Sarah Jane McGarry Sarah Jane McGarry

Why So Many Women Are Now Being Diagnosed With Autism and ADHD

Women are not suddenly becoming autistic or developing ADHD.
A generation of women was overlooked, misread, and forced to survive quietly until modern life removed the structures that helped them cope. This blog explains why diagnoses are rising now – and why this is overdue recognition, not overdiagnosis.

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Awakening the Brain to Interact with Our Environment
Sarah Jane McGarry Sarah Jane McGarry

Awakening the Brain to Interact with Our Environment

Understanding how the brain processes sensory information is key to learning, behaviour, and daily life. This blog explores how our senses keep the brain alert and engaged with the world around us.

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The Overlooked Link Between ADHD and Prison:
Sarah Jane McGarry Sarah Jane McGarry

The Overlooked Link Between ADHD and Prison:

ADHD is widely misunderstood within the prison system. This blog explores the link between ADHD, behaviour, and imprisonment, and why early identification and support matter

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When Social Fatigue Makes Work Feel Impossible
Sarah Jane McGarry Sarah Jane McGarry

When Social Fatigue Makes Work Feel Impossible

Social fatigue can make full-time work feel impossible, especially for autistic and ADHD people. This blog explains why social interaction drains energy and how workplaces can reduce burnout.

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Explaining Social Fatigue to Friends or a Partner
Sarah Jane McGarry Sarah Jane McGarry

Explaining Social Fatigue to Friends or a Partner

Social fatigue isn’t rudeness or lack of interest. For autistic and ADHD people, it’s mental exhaustion after socialising. This blog explains how to communicate limits without guilt.

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Autism Is Not a Brand: The Hidden Dangers of Turning Difference into a Product
ADHD & Autism Education, Autism & ADHD, Autism Sarah Jane McGarry ADHD & Autism Education, Autism & ADHD, Autism Sarah Jane McGarry

Autism Is Not a Brand: The Hidden Dangers of Turning Difference into a Product

Autism is increasingly being packaged and sold under the banner of representation. This blog explores the dangers of profiting from autism, particularly when narrow portrayals of autistic girls risk shaping identity, increasing masking, and causing real harm to children.

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ADHD and Vulnerability: Grooming, County Lines, and the Role of the Brain
ADHD & Autism Education, Dopamine Sarah Jane McGarry ADHD & Autism Education, Dopamine Sarah Jane McGarry

ADHD and Vulnerability: Grooming, County Lines, and the Role of the Brain

Some children with ADHD are more vulnerable to grooming, exploitation, and substance harm — not because of bad parenting or poor choices, but because of how their brains process reward, connection, and emotional regulation. This blog explains why, and what parents need to know to protect their children.

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ADHD and Autism: Different Ways the Brain Regulates Action, Attention, and Emotion
Self-Understanding, Neurodiversity, Autism, ADHD Sarah Jane McGarry Self-Understanding, Neurodiversity, Autism, ADHD Sarah Jane McGarry

ADHD and Autism: Different Ways the Brain Regulates Action, Attention, and Emotion

ADHD and autism aren’t behaviour problems. They are differences in how the brain regulates starting, stopping, switching, and emotion. This blog explains those differences in a clear, compassionate way for parents and adults trying to understand themselves.

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For Nearly 3 Years, SENCOs Can Hold Their Role Without Training – No Wonder ADHD Kids Are Failed
ADHD & Autism Education Sarah Jane McGarry ADHD & Autism Education Sarah Jane McGarry

For Nearly 3 Years, SENCOs Can Hold Their Role Without Training – No Wonder ADHD Kids Are Failed

SENCos can hold their role for nearly three years without mandatory training. This article examines how that gap contributes to ADHD children being misunderstood, mislabelled, excluded, and ultimately failed by an education system that hasn’t evolved to meet neurodivergent needs.

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Understanding Social Communication and Its Challenges for Those Who Are Autistic

Understanding Social Communication and Its Challenges for Those Who Are Autistic

Social communication is about far more than spoken words. For autistic people, navigating non-verbal cues, conversation rules, and social expectations can be exhausting — and often misunderstood. This article explores why social interaction can be so challenging and how we can offer better support.

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